GOLDEN — Not even temperatures in the 40s could cool off a red-hot Golden softball squad Saturday morning.
The Demons, ranked No. 7 in the CHSAANow.com Class 4A softball poll, blasted four home runs over the fences in their 17-1 regular-season finale victory against D’Evelyn.
“It really sets the tone for postseason play,” Golden senior Jade Gomez said after the win completed a 10-0 record in 4A Jeffco and put a nice bow on the Demons’ first softball conference title since 1995. “It gives us the chance to start high when we got out there.”
Golden junior Makenzie Middleton, right, gets a high-five from coach Chad Herbers as she rounds the bases after Middleton’s walk-off, 2-run home run Saturday against D’Evelyn. (Dennis Pleuss/Jeffco Athletics)
Before Golden (17-6 record) turned it attention to the postseason that begins next week, the Demons wanted to keep it rolling with a 14th straight win. Junior Makenzie Middleton closed out the game against D’Evelyn (11-12, 7-3) in style with a 2-run blast that Golden coach Chad Herbers said was the longest home run he has ever seen hit on the Demons’ home field.
“Nobody has ever cleared all three of those fences,” Hebers said.
Middleton’s second home run of the game — ninth of the season — cleared all three fences that separate the softball field from Fossil Trace Golf Club located beyond center field.
“You can’t hope for it,” Middleton said of her first multiple home run game of the season. “You have to just it happen.”
Along with Middleton’s two home runs, Gomez and Katherine Dunson also went deep. Gomez had a 2-run home run in the bottom of the first inning that followed up Middleton’s 3-run blast. Golden had a 5-0 before D’Evelyn could get an out.
“It felt like a crucial moment,” Gomez said about her first home run of the season. “I felt the pressure on me, but with the energy of the team combined with the confidence of the coaches it all went together like a puzzle. It all fit together.”
Dunson’s towering 3-run home run came in Golden’s 10-run bottom of the fourth inning. The Demons were able to induce the 15-run mercy rule after four innings following Middleton’s walk-off home run in the fourth.
Golden senior Elena Goodspeed, right, slides into home plate during the Demons’ 10-run fourth inning that closed out a 17-1 victory Saturday morning. (Dennis Pleuss/Jeffco Athletics)
“They are on fire up-and-down the line-up. They are having fun. They are setting the table for each other,” Herbers said. “This is a special group. They have really taken ahold of the idea — get them on, get them over and get them in.”
Golden senior pitcher Cassidy Paulson scattered four hits over four innings. D’Evelyn’s lone run came off an RBI single by sophomore Eve Dalla in the third inning. The Jaguars had a couple of other scoring chances, but Golden was able to turn a pair of double-plays.
Makayla Middleton caught a line-drive and doubled off a Jaguar runner at first base in the second inning. Makenzie Middleton made a diving catch in centerfield and doubled off another Jaguar runner at second base in the third inning.
“It takes two sides. You have to do both,” Makenzie Middleton said of Golden’s hitting and defense. “We work on both a lot.”
Golden will surely host one of the eight 4A regional tournaments next Saturday, Oct. 13. The regional seedings will be released Monday, Oct. 8. D’Evelyn is also playoff bound getting an automatic bid after finishing runner-up to Golden in the conference.
“I’m excited for our team. Hopefully we can make some noise,” D’Evelyn coach Dan Porreco said about regionals. “We are going to let this one hurt all the way through next Saturday.”
D’Evelyn junior catcher Peyton Balbin is able to hang onto the ball during a collision at home plate with Golden junior Makayla Middleton during the second inning Saturday at Golden High School. (Dennis Pleuss/Jeffco Athletics)
Dolores Huerta football put an end to a 38-game losing streak on Friday night by beating Miami-Yoder.
The Scorpions, who hadn’t won in more than four years — Sept. 13, 2014, to be exact — put up 28 points in the first half en route to a 28-0 win.
Put another way: the current seniors had not won a game since they’d been at the school.
“These boys were very, very excited!” Dolores Huerta coach James Casias said on Saturday. “They cried with lots of emotion. They screamed and yelled like they won a state championship.”
On a cold and windy night, with gusts up to 25 miles an hour, “throwing the ball was near impossible,” Casias said.
The 38-game losing streak had been the longest in the state. But no longer. Now, Dolores Huerta will enjoy its bye week, and then start to focus on Mancos, who they play on Oct. 20.
“We’re looking forward to our bye week and getting ready for Mancos,” Casias said. “Hopefully we can get us another victory.”
PUEBLO — CSU-Pueblo has been selected as the host site for the Class 2A and 3A state football championship games.
CHSAA and Friends of Football, located in Pueblo, made the joint announcement for a two-year agreement at a press conference on Friday afternoon. This season’s 2A title game is set for Nov. 24, and the 3A championship will be played on Dec. 1. The 2019 games are scheduled for Nov. 30 and Dec. 7.
“We’re excited we found enthusiastic partners in CSU-Pueblo and the Friends of Football to provide a meaningful experience for players, students, families and fans,” said CHSAA assistant commissioner Bud Ozzello, who oversees football. “We are confident not only Pueblo but the entire Southern Colorado community will embrace this event.”
Said CHSAA commissioner Rhonda Blanford-Green: “None of this happens by itself. There is teamwork, and it took a team to bring this together today.”
Both games are scheduled to be played at CSU-Pueblo’s Neta and Eddie DeRose ThunderBowl. The CHSAA Board of Directors approved the site at their meeting on Wednesday.
(Ryan Casey/CHSAANow.com)
The ThunderBowl has a seating capacity of 6,500, and features a synthetic field turf. It was built in 2008.
“I am thrilled to be able to say that we are able to host a significant championship event on our campus,” said Paul Plinske, the athletic director at CSU-Pueblo. “This is a wonderful day in the history of our program.”
In recent years, the 2A and 3A games have been hosted at home sites. The football committee voted last December to host the games at a premier venue neutral site. The 2A and 3A games were last hosted at a neutral site from 2007-12 at Legacy Stadium in Aurora.
In searching for a host site, the CHSAA office requested bids from various universities all over the state. CSU-Pueblo emerged as the selection among those bids.
“We’re excited about having another event in Pueblo,” said Rick Macias, the district athletic director of Pueblo City Schools, and a member of CHSAA Board of Directors. “Pueblo is a high school town, they like to go out and support high schools. … Whoever is in the state championship, they’ll be here.”
There is a backup plan in the event CSU-Pueblo’s football team is hosting a playoff game which causes a conflict with a championship game: The host site would shift to Dutch Clark Stadium in Pueblo. Should a Pueblo team be involved in that scenario, the game would move to Pueblo West High School.
Arvada West sophomore Eli Ross (20) gave the Wildcats a 1-0 lead early in the second half against rival Ralston Valley at NAAC. (Dennis Pleuss/Jeffco Athletics)
ARVADA — Arvada West boys soccer threw a monkey wrench into the race for the Class 5A Jeffco League on Thursday night.
The Wildcats (9-3, 5-1 in league) defeated rival Ralston Valley 2-0 at the North Area Athletic Complex.
“It feels good. It’s been a couple of years,” A-West coach Troy Gette said of ending a 2-game losing streak against rival Ralston Valley. It had been since 2015 since the Wildcats had defeated the Mustangs on the soccer pitch. “It was a big game and the boys rose to the occasion. I thought we dominated from the opening whistle.”
The victory leaves A-West, Ralston Valley (5-4-2, 4-1) and Chatfield (9-3, 4-1) atop the conference with one league loss each with just a few conference games remaining for the next few weeks.
Ralston Valley junior Hayden Miller (9) tries to make a move on Arvada West sophomore Kyler Tate on Thursday night at the NAAC. (Dennis Pleuss/Jeffco Athletics)
“It will be a fight to the end,” Ralston Valley coach Jamie Scarcliff said of league race where the Mustangs are trying to win a third straight conference crown. “We’ll just have to hope for some wins and losses in certain games and see how it pans out.”
The Mustangs came in Thursday red hot with four straight league wins. After a rough 1-3-2 non-league record, the Mustangs were the lone undefeated team in the conference and with the inside track to one of the two automatic bids Jeffco is awarded for the 32-team 5A state tournament.
However, second-half goals by A-West sophomores Eli Ross (47th minute) and Gabe Schultz (72nd minute) gave the Wildcats the big conference victory and extend their winning streak to four games.
“Getting that first goal was one of the biggest things for me this whole season,” Ross said. “As a team we played amazing.”
Senior Evan Keasling fired a direct free kick toward the net in the opening 10 minutes of the second half. Ross was able to get a foot on it to knock it past Ralston Valley goalie Cooper Steputis.
“I was in my own little world,” Ross said of his goal. “I saw the ball come through and I thought that was mine.”
Arvada West senior Evan Keasling (16) and Ralston Valley senior Cort Johnson (4) battle for the ball Thursday at NAAC. (Dennis Pleuss/Jeffco Athletics)
A-West junior Judah Johnston did most of the work on the Wildcats’ second goal. The midfield was able to flick the ball over the head of an A-West defender to continue his run down the sideline. Johnston fired a pass to Schultz, who blasted a low shot toward the far post.
Ralston Valley was held to just a few good scoring chances in its first shutout loss of the season. A-West goalie Latham Kleckner picked up the shutout victory in net.
“We struggled to connect together offensively today,” Scarcliff said. “I think A-West worked hard today. They were able to put the ball away and finish.”
Ralston Valley’s non-league schedule was packed with four teams — Denver East, Legacy, Grandview and Arapahoe — all currently in the top-10 for the CHSAANow.com 5A boys soccer rankings. The Mustangs did managed a scoreless tie against No. 6 Arapahoe.
Ralston Valley finishes out conference play against Pomona, Chatfield and Bear Creek over the next two weeks. The Mustangs also have a non-league game squeezed in against Castle View.
A-West has more than a week-long break before its next game on Oct. 15 at Lakewood Memorial Field. The Wildcats finish off their regular season against Dakota Ridge, Valor Christian and Eaglecrest before waiting to see their playoff fate.
“We’ve got to take care of business against Valor,” Gette said. “Hopefully things work in our favor.”
The Class 5A Jeffco League title is up for grabs now with Arvada West, Ralston Valley and Chatfield all with just one conference loss heading into the final few weeks of the regular season. (Dennis Pleuss/Jeffco Athletics)
ARVADA — Pomona senior Dominic Bettini went from back-up running back to workhorse Thursday night at the North Area Athletic Complex.
Starting running back Therious Robison was out with an injury, so Bettini got the ball early and often. Bettini finished with five touchdown runs in Pomona’s 41-27 victory over rival Arvada West on the football field.
“With Therious being hurt I kind of knew I needed to take some of the workload. I just mentally prepared,” Bettini said. “The offensive line did a heck of a job out there. All my success was because of the o-line.”
The drive that defined the night for Bettini was on the Panthers’ final scoring drive. Pomona, No. 5 in the CHSAANow.com 5A football rankings, handed the ball to Bettini a dozen straight times on the Panthers’ third straight drive that yielded a touchdown that broke open what was a 20-20 game midway through the third quarter.
Pomona senior David Ross fights for extra yards after a catch Thursday night. (Dennis Pleuss/Jeffco Athletics)
“I’m glad they have the trust in me to do that,” Bettini said of his 12 straight carries on Pomona’s final scoring drive that covered 73 yards in 12 plays. “Whatever they (coaches) want me to do I’ll do it.”
A-West gave Pomona all it wanted through three quarters. A 5-yard touchdown run by A-West senior Tony Cass with 5 minutes left in the third quarter tied things up 20-20.
“As a team we played all four quarters solid,” Cass said. “A couple of turnovers killed us on offensive, but overall we played great as a team.”
The turnovers popped up on three straight drives after Pomona regained the lead 27-20 on Bettini’s third touchdown run with 2 minutes left in the third quarter. Pomona senior Jack Thiele intercepted A-West senior quarterback Johnny Krutsch late in the third quarter, but it was senior Trent Padia who came up huge defensively on back-to-back possessions.
“They (A-West) made us fight and scratch for everything we got,” Pomona coach Jay Madden said. “We found a way to win and that is all that really matters.”
A-West senior Chris McEahern (3) makes a great catch against Pomona on Thursday night at NAAC. (Dennis Pleuss/Jeffco Athletics)
Padia recovered a fumble by A-West senior Cory Carignan that led to a 1-yard touchdown run by Bettini to make it a 34-20 game with 10:35 left in the fourth quarter. Padia then picked off Krutsch on A-West’s next possession to set up the final scoring drive for Pomona.
“When it got that close we knew as a defense we had to take charge,” Thiele said of A-West in the game midway through the third quarter. “We got those three turnovers and I felt like that changed the momentum of the game.”
There was another highlight for Pomona. Senior receiver Billy Pospisil went for the 3,000-yard receiving mark for his career with another 100+ yard game that included a first-half touchdown catch from senior quarterback Riley Welsch.
“Billy went for 3,000 yards (for his prep career) today against his Dad’s old high school,” Madden said. “That’s pretty cool.”
The next three weeks will determine if Pomona is able to win its third straight conference crown. The Panthers easily won the 5A Mt. Evans League the past two seasons during the waterfall format.
Pomona (5-2 record, 2-0 in 5A Metro West League) is at Mullen (3-3, 0-1) on Friday, Oct. 12, before closing out the regular season against No. 3 Columbine on Oct. 19 at Jeffco Stadium and No. 8 Ralston Valley on Oct. 26 at NAAC.
“We just have to get healthy and hope we survive through this tough league we got,” Madden said. “We’ve got a lot to do if we want to get anywhere near where our goals are at.”
Pomona, Columbine and Ralston Valley were all in the top-8 in the RPI before the start of Week 7 games. Grabbing a top-8 seed will be important with those eight games getting first-round byes in the new 24-team 5A state tournament that begins the first week in November.
A-West (4-3, 0-2) has lost three straight after a 4-0 start. However, the Wildcats have the chance to get back in the win column the next two weeks facing Lakewood (3-3, 0-1) and Mullen.
If A-West can get to six victories it would surely lock a second straight playoff berth for A-West coach Brad Pyatt’s squad.
A-West senior Isaiah Ocana (20) is wrapped up by Pomona senior Damien Lucero (8) during the first half Thursday night at NAAC. (Dennis Pleuss/Jeffco Athletics)
